Podcast 115: Jim Olson of Olson Guitars

Jim Olson is a legend in the world of acoustic guitar making. The
Minnesota-based luthier is a cult favorite among guitar
collectors around the world thanks to the instruments he's built
for James Taylor (Taylor's Olson was once immortalized in cartoon
form on a Simpson’s episode), Phil Keaggy and Leo Kottke. Due to
their high demand, Olson’s new creations start at $15,000, a
price that even he is a little embarrassed by. “I’m the Forrest
Gump of guitarmaking,” Olson tells us. “I fell into here. I don’t
think these things are any more special than anything
else.” 


During this candid talk, Olson tells us about the first guitar he
built (with help from the classic Irving Sloane book), how Keagy
ordered the first cedar guitar and how an early (and failed)
distribution deal for his dreadnoughts in the late ‘70s resulted
in his fanatical appreciation for tooling and build efficiency.
“I’m sometimes more interested in making a new piece of tooling
than a guitar,” he says. We also talk CNC machines, the creation
of the Small Jumbo, tone woods, his fateful meeting with James
Taylor and more.

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